Name:
Date:
COMPOSITION ASSIGNMENT
THIS IS A 2 PART ASSIGNMENT
In this project, you will learn about ways to arrange things in your photographs to enhance impact and communication.
Part One: Due Friday 1/10/14 – Practice finding Examples of Composition, Elements of Art & Principles of Design
1. Read hand out – Composition Techniques - Simple Techniques for Better Pictures.
2. To help you practice seeing the rules of compositions in other photographs, you will create a POWER POINT
presentation using pictures from the internet that are examples of all 38 items listed below.
3. Beside each picture, identify AND define the rule of composition it meets.
4. Write why the picture meets the rule of composition.
5. WORK IN TEAMS OF 2 – DIVIDE THE ITEMS AND COMBINE YOUR WORK INTO ONE POWER POINT
PRESENTATION TO COMPLETE YOUR SLIDES AND THEN MERGE INTO ONE. Be sure your names are on the
presentation.
Part Two: Now you take the picture. YOUR ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK – Due Friday – January 17
THIS PART IS IN AN INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT – DONE WITHOUT YOUR PARTNER.
Demonstrate the rules of composition in your own work. Using your practice power point create a new presentation that
demonstrates a minimum of 10 images. Replace the sample picture for the internet with one of your own for 10 slides.
Modify the explanation of why your picture meets the rule of composition. Include the ISO, F/Stop, Shutter Speed, White
Balance, and Exposure Mode information on the slide.
1. You’ll do a total of 10 pictures on your own
Demonstrate at least:
5 different Composition Techniques
3 Elements of Art
2 Principles of Design.
Present your work in a Power Point presentation. Be sure to label each and explain why the subject presented meets
that rule/technique.
2.
Include ISO, F/Stop, Shutter Speed, Exposure Mode, & White Balance information on each slide.
3. THESE MUST BE NEW IMAGES SHOT FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. You will turn in your raw, unedited files in
addition to your power point presentation.
4. Participate in the group discussion and critique session with the class.
Power Point Presentations: Use the information in these handouts, the internet, and text to create your definitions.
Here are some helpful internet websites:
 http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=39&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=972
 http://www.photographymad.com/tips/view/10-top-photography-composition-rules
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_(visual_arts)
 http://www.guidetofilmphotography.com/film-camera-composition.html
 http://www.secondpicture.com/photography_composition.html
 http://www.photography-art-cafe.com/photography-composition.html
 http://www.photography-art-cafe.com/photography-composition.html
 http://www.digitalcamerabeginner.net/index.php/2010/10/31/basics-part-1-composition/
 http://wwwca.kodak.com/CA/en/consumer/guideToBetterPictures/eStores/index.jhtml?style=&cat=9
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For each rule of composition listed below you will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Make a slide for it
Title the slide for which ever rule of composition you are demonstrating
Find a picture that meets that rule of composition.
Write beside the picture a definition of the rule of composition
Explain how the picture meets the rule
Create a slide and definition for each of the following rules:
Elements of Art: (You will create 3 of your own photos from this group)
1. Line
2. Shape
3. Value
4. Form
5. Color
An element of art that refers to a continuous mark made on some surface by a moving point. It may
be two dimensional, like a pencil mark on a paper or it may be three dimensional (wire) or implied(
the edge of a shape or form) often it is a out-line, contour or silhouette. It could be a leading line
that leads the eye back in space. It could be an implied line such as a dotted line….or objects
arranged in a line. Lines can be straight or curved and can be organized to emphasize areas.
An enclosed space defined by other elements of art. shapes may take on the appearance of two-d
or three- objects. Shape pertains to the use of areas in two dimensional space that can be defined
by edges, setting one flat specific space apart from another. Shapes can be geometric (e.g.: square,
circle, triangle, hexagon, etc.) or organic (such as the shape of a puddle, blob, leaf, boomerang,
etc.) in nature. Shapes are defined by other elements of art: Space, Line, Texture, Value, Color,
Form.
The lightness or darkness of a color or neutral tone. It helps to express volume by becoming a
component of shadows or highlights. A darker value of a color infers a shadow. A lighter value
infers highlights. The true tone of the subject would be the 18% exposure from the camera.
An element of art that is three-dimensional and encloses volume. Cubes, spheres, and cylinders
are examples of various forms.
An element of art with three properties:
1) Hue - the name of the color, e.g. red, yellow, etc.
2) Brightness or Saturation - refer to the intensity or the purity and strength of the color such
as brightness or dullness.
3) Value - The lightness or darkness of the color. Tint and Shade are references to adding
variations in Value other tertiary colors are derived by mixing either a primary or secondary
color with a neutral color. e.g. Red + White = Pink = a Tint Red + Black = Shade
Color pertains to the use of hue in artwork and design. Defined as Primary Colors (red, yellow, blue),
which cannot be mixed in pigment from other hues, Secondary Colors (green, orange, violet) which
are directly mixed from combination's of primary colors. Further combinations of primary and
secondary colors create tertiary (and more) hues. Color groupings can also be used –
monochromatic, warm/cool, triads, etc.
6. Texture
Refers to the surface quality or "feel" of an object, such as roughness, smoothness, or softness.
Actual texture can be felt while simulated textures are implied by the way the artist renders areas of
the picture. In photographs, to create texture you need to light things from the side or at a low
angle. To reduce texture, light it from the front. To give a sense of surface quality, a polished
surface with have sharper specular highlights while a textured surface will have softer diffused
highlights.
7. Space
Space refers to the distances or areas around, between or within components of a piece. There are
two type of space: positive and negative space. Positive space refers to the space of a shape
representing the subject matter. Negative space refers to the space around and between the subject
matter. Space is the area provided for a particular purpose. It may have two dimensions (length and
width), such as a floor, or it may have three dimensions (length, width, and height). Space includes
the background, foreground and middle ground.
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Principles of Design: (You will create 2 of your own photos from this group)
8. Emphasis
9. Balance
Show:
 Symmetrical,
 Asymmetrical
 Radial
10. Unity
In a composition, emphasis refers to developing points of interest to pull the viewer's eye to
important parts of the body of the work. How will you draw the viewers eye, by leading lines,
will you use color, diagonal lines, dramatic lighting? You have to control the viewer’s eye by
demanding their attention in a particular place.
Balance is a sense of stability in the body of work. Balance can be created by repeating same
shapes and by creating a feeling of equal weight.
 Balance can be achieved by the location of objects, volume or sizes of objects, and
by color. It can also be achieved by balancing lighter colors with darker colors, or bold
colors with light neutral colors.
 Symmetrical Balance – Each ½ of the picture has the same approximate visual
weight.
 Asymmetrical Balance – One side of the image has more visual weight than the
other.
 Radial Balance –This type of balance is in a circular pattern around a center spot.
Think of a flower with petals all around the center.
Unity refers to a sense that everything in a piece of work belongs there, and makes a whole
piece. It is achieved by the use of balance, repetition and/or design harmony. Refers to when
all the parts equal a whole. You can have Unity with Harmony & Unity with Variety.
11. Harmony
Achieved in a body of work by using similar elements throughout the work, harmony gives an
uncomplicated look to your work. EXAMPLE: Perhaps throughout a piece you have a
particular color, objects, or patterns that repeat.
12. Variety
The use of dissimilar elements, which creates interest and uniqueness. You can achieve
variety by using difference shapes, textures, colors and values in your work. Without some
variety, the work can be too static and boring.
Adds excitement to your work by showing action and directing the viewers eye throughout the
picture plane. Also, think about giving your subject space to move within the image area.
13. Movement
14. Rhythm
A type of movement created by repeating of shapes and colors. Alternating lights and darks
also give a sense of rhythm.
15. Proportion & Scale
Refers to the relationships of the size of objects in a body of work. Proportions gives a sense
of size seen as a relationship of objects such as smallness or largeness. Proportion and
scale can be used to create a sense of distance in an image.
16. Contrast
Contrast is the occurrence of differing elements, such as color, value, size, etc. It creates
interest and pulls the attention toward the focal point.
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Composition Techniques
Simple Techniques for Better Pictures
"Good photography has nothing to do with expensive equipment, it demands careful planning, an understanding
of basic composition, and the COURAGE to try the unusual."
KNOW YOUR
EQUIPMENT
You don't need fancy equipment to make good photographs. However, you do
need to know how your camera works.
•
•
•
Know the special features of your camera
Know its limitations and how to compensate for them
Learn to use the metering system and when to trust the information it gives you
and when to make adjustments.
UNDERSTAND BASIC In your photographs, you are the conductor of a visual symphony!
COMPOSITION
YOU CONTROL THE VIEWER BY THE WAY YOU:
• Frame your scene
• Place objects and action
• Use lines, shapes, patterns, and colors together
• Use contrasts in light and dark and in colors
THE DECISIVE
MOMENT
Henri Cartier-Bresson coined the phrase "The Decisive Moment" because he felt
that life was doing a dance before him and he wanted to capture that moment in
time when the "dance" was the most exciting, when all the subjects before him
were in motion.
Capture the "dance" in your images.
Composition Techniques: (Create 5 Photos From This Group)
17.
Cropping &
Content
Choices
This has to do with whether you choose to show the whole scene or a part of the scene.
Example: A photo essay about baseball may have as much to do with detail shots of a worn
mitt and baseball as the plays of the game. Cropping forces you to think about edges of your
image area. What will you show and what will you eliminate? Crop out the unimportant things.
Shoot tight when possible to focus greater attention on the important things in the image area.
18.
Portrait or
Landscape
View
You have to think about which way you should place the camera to best frame
your subject. Horizontal composition is often referred to as
Landscape view and Vertical shots are called Portrait
Horizontal
views. If you’re photographing objects that are tall and
=
thin, maybe a portrait view would work better. If you are
Landscape
photographing actual landscapes, depending on your main
subjects, a horizontal or landscape view might be better.
Vertical
=
Portrait
19. Use Diagonals
Setting your subject matter on a diagonal will almost always make for a more dynamic picture.
Even if this is an invisible diagonal that draws your eye between two points. Move around the)
and look for a diagonal.
20. Spot
You can demand attention by having a spot of light or color that separates this area from the
background. Example: Image a dark stage and one spotlight lighting your subject. Imagine a
field of green flowing grass and one red flower.
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21. Framing the
Subject
Date:
This has to do with framing some elements of the subject in the background with elements in the
foreground. Example: You may have a mountain scene in the background framed by trees in
the foreground. It helps to create a sense of depth in your image.
Framing also deals with what you choose to include or exclude in the scene and what is placed at
the edges of the image area.
It also has to do with whether the subject will be shown horizontally or vertically.
•
•
•
22. Backgrounds
If your subject is horizontal, hold the camera horizontally. If it's a vertical subject, hold the
camera vertically.
Have action lead into rather than out of a scene. Give the action space to occur within the
image area.
Try not to cut off body parts at a joint. When shooting full length, back up and give a bit of
room all the way around the edges of the person so their heads and feet won't be cut off in a
print.
Make the background work for your subject. If you have a painting on the wall of an angel
peering down over the shoulder of a man sitting in a café next to the wall reading his newspaper,
it’s more interesting with the feeling of the angel reading over his shoulder than if the wall were
blank. Make the background work with the subject. However, also be sure that it does not
detract from the subject by being too cluttered.
Also avoid mergers –
 Object Mergers – Where things grow out of the heads of your subjects…
 Color Mergers - Where the main subject gets lost if it is placed against a background of
the same or similar color. (This can be kind of interesting though if you want to hide
things.)
23. Pattern
Patterns are all about repetition. This could be colors, shapes, or lines repeated within the
image. You have patterns in clothing, patterns are in organic forms – plants – think of an orange.
They seen in inorganic man made forms such as a tiles or lines on a building etc.
24. Lighting Contrast of
Light & Dark
25. Lighting – Hard
or Soft Light
Have some areas that are lighter or darker in your image. Use it to help create a sense of drama
or mood in your image.
26. Contrast of
Sharpness
At times, you want everything to be in sharp focus, but at times, you don’t. Use your f/stop or
camera to subject distance to limit the area in focus to make your center of interest more
important.
27. Point of View
Point of view is the angle from which the picture is taken. Try to change your point of view.
At times, the quality of the light has an impact on the feeling you have in your image. Soft
diffused light like an overcast sky, window light, or shade will give a much different feel to the
image than harsh, bright light.
EXPERIMENT! Pre-focus and don't even use the view finder and see what you get. Try to get
away from having everything eye level and in the center.
Think about it…if you keep standing on the ground, you keep getting the same view of the world.
Get a bird’s eye view. Stand up higher than your subject. Get a worm’s eye view. Lay down on
the ground. Get shorter – view the world through the eyes of a child. Think about all the different
angles you could photograph the same subject.
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28.
Perspective
Create a sense of depth using perspective. Converging lines going up or back in space can help.
Perspective gives the illusion of three dimensions in a two-dimensional space. The missing
dimension is depth on a two dimensional surface. A series of objects can lead the viewer back in
space if they overlap, and get smaller as they go back. This can help create a sense of depth.
29.
S-Curve
The S curve is a meandering line that leads the viewer back in space. It could be a winding road
or a winding river.
30. Rule of
Thirds or the
Golden Mean
This is a very old method of composition. You imagine a tic-tac-toe grid and then you place
important information on the intersections of the lines. Try to avoid having horizon lines in the
center of the picture. Have them either high or low.
31.
The K.I.S.S. method of photography says, "Keep it simple, silly!"
Simplicity
Truly, this is one of the most effective ways to create POWERFUL images. Sometimes, less is
more. Need I say more?
32.
Get Closer
The most common mistake of beginning photographers is to take pictures too far away from the
subject.
Getting closer helps to eliminate distracting objects in the surrounding areas and helps to simplify
the content of the image.
33. Triangular
Composition
Arrange things in triangles…Example, in a family portrait, don’t have all the heads even. Have
them placed in a triangle to keep the eye moving through the frame.
34. Focal Point –
Strong Center of
Interest
Without a focal point, what is the purpose of the image. Make something in the image area
import, your main subject. Do it with color, position, framing, or any of the principles of design, or
compositional formulas. Give the viewer a reason to look and then a reason to stay with your
subject by giving them other things to look at within the image area…demand their attention in a
particular area and then lead them through your subject.
35. Break the
Rules
Create a sense of tension in your images. You don’t always have to follow the rules.
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Using your Camera – Helpful Reminders
TIPS ON USING •
THE LIGHT
•
METER IN YOUR
CAMERA
•
•
•
•
BRACKET
EXPOSURES
It is a reflectant meter. It measures light reflected or emitted from your subject.
Whether the subject is black or white, it will average the light entering the camera to turn the
subject middle gray. This means the recommendation will not work for all scenes.
Move in close to your subject to get a more accurate reading.
Use a gray card - The camera now sees what it wants, middle gray, and all the other values fall
into place.
Meter on your hand - for light skin, increase the exposure 1-2 stops, dark skin is close to middle
gray. Test your skin tone before you go out.
If you can't move in close, for light backgrounds, increase your exposure by 1-2 stops. For dark
backgrounds, decrease your exposure by 1-2 stops.
Bracketing means that you take the picture at the exposure recommended by the light meter, then
you take extra pictures at 1-2 stops over exposure and 1-2 stops under exposure. That way,
you're sure to get one shot that's right on. This is especially important when you're doing
something that can't be repeated.
Investigate HDR HDR allows you to photograph a subject that has a big difference between bright and dark areas.
– High Dynamic
High contrast scenes can be difficult to photograph. This technique allows you to expose for the
Range
highlight and then shadow areas and combine the images to create an image with full detail in all
areas. This allows you to use bracketed images to get the best of all exposures in one
Check it out on
photograph.
the internet.
This display is on a Canon DSLR Camera
Your light meter
Over
Under
Target
info:
The triangle
shape
displayed in the
center of the
bar graph
indicates the
correct
exposure.
Moving one dot
on the bar
graph indicates
a 1/3 stop
change in
exposure.
Shutter
Speed
Exposure
Aperture
Value
Exposure
Your current
exposure
Exposure
Frame
Number
Note:
When the shutter release button is depressed halfway down, the shutter speed and aperture value
will be displayed in the viewfinder and on the LCD panel on the top of the camera.
Pay attention: This is telling you NOT to take this picture. It is a 1/3 stop under exposure (not quite
enough light for a good picture).
This display is for a Canon Rebel. Most cameras will have a similar display.
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This display is in a
NIKON camera.
Date:
Check it Out: This display shows a shutter speed of 1/250, and f/stop of 5.6 and
a 1 stop under exposure. The frame counter is on 332. This is telling you
NOT to take the picture because there is not enough light. Move your
controls (shutter, f/stop, or ISO) until you get to a setting for an optimal
exposure.
Try for this
Not enough light
Too much light
Over and under
exposures
Over Exposure – Pictures will be too bright – use less light (smaller aperture
toward f/22) or less time (faster shutter speed toward 1/1000).
Under Exposure – Pictures will be too dark – use more light (larger aperture –
toward f/2) or more time (slower shutter speed - toward 1 second).
Using Your
Histogram:
Use it to help you evaluate your exposures and make changes as needed. If the
graph is shoved to the right or left, you may end up losing detail in the shadow or
highlight areas.
Your Histogram is a
graph of your image
exposure.
Dark Picture
WARNING ABOUT:
Needle or Dot in the
Middle
This means GRAY.
Normal
Light Picture
The needle in the middle indicates that the light entering the camera will render the
subject middle gray, which a reflectant meter is designed to do. If your subject is
white or black, you will need to make adjustments to compensate for this averaging
effect, or meter on a gray card. Review the Zone Scale on the handout for Apertures,
Shutter Speeds, and Zone Scales. You can place your values where you want them in
the final picture by pre-visualizing what you want.
Tips to Remember:
Light back grounds (bright cement, bright sky, white walls) can fool your light meter into
Light Backgrounds
thinking there is more light on your subject than there really is. Your subject will
end up underexposed and too dark in the picture. Open up (increase)1-2 stops to
compensate.
PRACTICE
PRACTICE
PRACTICE
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Shoot lots of PICTURES. Try new things. Study photo magazines, books, and try to
learn all you can about photography. Remember, photography is all about
experimentation. Make some new discoveries!
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